Table top construction



April 6, 1948. s -rz 2,439,027 7 TABLE TOP CONSTRUCTION Filed March 20, 1945 2 Shets-Sheet 1 lnbentor 41 Jaogwesjianl'iz April 6, 1948. J. sTANrrz 2,439,027

TABLE TOP CONSTRUCTION Filed March 20, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fly. 5 16' 3nventor Jmwdlanilz Patented Apr. 6, 1948 TABLE TOP CONSTRUCTION Jacques Stanitz, Warren, Ohio, minor to Mullins Manufacturing Corporation, Salem, Ohio, a corporation of New York Application March 20, 1945, Serial No. 583,771

6 Claims. (Cl. 311-408) 1 The invention relates to a table top construction and more particularly to the construction of a rigid, flat, work surface, table, counter, platform, sink drainboard and the like, having a preferably curved front nose and a coved rear splashback, and being free of Joints at the nose, cove and splashback.

Present day kitchens are equipped, in addition to a sink and a cabinet beneath the sink, with work tables, counters or platforms extending from one or both sides of the sink. vThese working surfaces may be formed integrally as a part of the sink drainboards, or may be the tops of various kinds of kitchen cabinets.

In either event, it is desirable that the table tops be flat and relatively rigid, that, they have a working surface which may be easily cleaned and kept in-a sanitary condition, that the working surface be relatively impervious to liquids,

foods and other materials ordinarily handled in" a kitchen, that they have a preferably curved front nosing and a coved splashback, and that the working surface, nose and splashback present from front to rear a continuous smooth surface free of any Joints or cracks in which food or other foreign material may collect.

Considerable difiiculty has been experienced in forming table tops having all of the foregoing characteristics. Prior art constructions have involved much hand work and fitting. Linoleum is a satisfactory surfacing material but it cannot be bent around a curved nose, cove or splashback edge and secured in a satisfactory manner at the curved or bent portions thereof. Thus, separate nosing, cove and splashback members have been required when linoleum is used, resulting in transverse joints between the linoleum and nosing, cove and splashback members.

Prior art attempts to overcome some of these difficulties and to provide a strong rigid structure have resulted in relatively expensive constructions.

A ly. it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new table top construction for kitchen sinks, cabinets andthe like.

Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to eliminate any transverse joints or'cracks heretofore present in the construction of table tops having a surfacing material which may be kept clean and sanitary, and having rounded noses and coved splashbacks.

Also. it is an object of the present invention to reduce the cost of constructionof table tops for'kitchen sinks, cabinets and the like.

Likewise, it is an object of the present invention to provide a table top construction in which a rigid, structural metal frame has a work surface facing member mounted on and secured thereto. and in which the facing member is preformed to have a curved front nose, a flat working surface, a curved cove, and an upstanding splashback terminating in a curved upper edge, all continuously uninterrupted and free of transverse cracks or joints.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a table top construction in which a structural frame is used that may be fabricated from simple sheet metal stampings or parts.

Also, it is an object of the present invention to provide a table top construction having a continuous facing member providing the work surface formed of rubber or synthetic 'rubber coated sheet steel, stainless clad steel, orcelain enamel coated sheet steel, or plastic sheet material preformed or molded to the desired shape including a flat work surface, a curved nosing and a rear coved splashback, which preformed facing member is assembled to a structural frame.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a table top construction in which a preformed facing member having a curved front nosing and a rear coved splashback portion, or both, may be mounted on and secured to a rigid structural frame by cap-like end trim members at the sides and by concealed screws, front and back. 7

Also, it is an object of-the present invention to provide a new table top construction for kitchen sinks, cabinets and the like incorporating the foregoing desiderata, which may be fabricated by production methods at materially reduced costs.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new table top construction, which avoids prior art difficulties, satisfactorily solves problems existin in the art, and incorporates the foregoing advantages in a simple, effective and inexpensive manner. 7

These and other objects and advantages apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and claims may be obtained,

forth in the following general statement, a preferred embodiment of which--illustratlve of the best mode in which the applicant has contemplated applying the principle-is set forth in the following description and shown in the drawings, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims formin part hereof.

The nature of the improvements in table top construction may be stated in general terms as preferably including a structural frame preferably formed of channel flanged end members and angle or channel transverse members, the end and transverse members each being simple, formed sheet metal parts: a preformed facing member having an integral rounded front nose and a curved rear cove merging into a splashback terminating in an upper curved splashback nose fabricated of rubber or synthetic rubber coated sheet steel, stainless, clad steel, porcelain enamel coated sheet steel, or molded plastic sheet and the like: and means securing the preformed facing member to the structural frame.

By way of example, a preferred embodiment of the improved table top construction is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof wherein: V

Figure l is a perspective view of a kitchen cabinet unit provided with the improved table top construction:

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the table top taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section en at right angles to the 7 section of Fig. 2, as on the line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, with parts broken away and in section, of the improved table top construction;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a structural frame for the improved table top;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a metal sheet from which the facing member may be formed;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the sheet of Fig. 6 coated with rubber, or the like;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the completed facing member formed from the coated sheet of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an end trim member used in the improved table top construction.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

The kitchen cabinet indicated at I in Fig. 1 is provided with the improved table top construction generally indicated at 2. The improved table top 2 includes a structural frame generally indicated at 3 (Fig. 5), a preformed facing member 4 (Fig. 8) and cap-like end trim members 5 (Fig. 9).

The structural frame 3 is formed of L-shaped end members 8 joined by a front angle member 'i, a central channel member 8 and a rear angle member 9. Each channel end member 6 is formed with an upper flange i0 and a lowerv flange ii joined by the web member i 2. At the front of each member 8. the upper flange i0 is curved downwardly at l3 to Join the offset portion M of the lower flange ii. At the rear of each member 6, the web portion l2 extends upwardly in an L-shaped fashion at IE to form a splashback support. The upper flange It has a curved cove portion i8 merging into an upwardly extending flange I! which is rounded at.

the top at [8 and extends downwardly in a rear flange IS on the up tanding web po t Hi. Th

flanges l9 are oflset at 20.-

Theoifset flange portions i 4 and 20 are each 4 provided with threaded apertures 2i for receiv-.- ing screws when assembling the table top. The" ends of angle member 1 are preferably spot welded to the lower flanges ll of the end members 8; and the ends of angle member 8 are preferably spot welded to the end member flanges IS. The channel reinforcing member 8 is likewise preferably spot welded to the upper and lower flanges i0 and ii of the L-shaped end members 6. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 5, a rigid structural frame member 3 for the table top is formed by simple bent, pressed or drawn sheet metal members 8, I, 8 and 3; and these members may be readily fabricated using production methods.

The facing member 4 is formed with a front under flange 22, a curved nosing portion 23, a flat work surface 24, a curved cove portion 25, an upstanding splashback portion 26, a curved top nose 21 and a rear down-turned flange 28. Thus, the facing member 4 is generally L-shaped in cross-section (Fig. 3), Apertures 29 are formed in the flanges 22 and 28 matching the apertures 2| in the structural frame.

The facing member 4 may be fabricated from a fiat sheet steel blank 30 illustrated in Fig. 6 to which an upper rubber or synthetic rubber coating 3| or the like is bonded to form thecoated sheet 32 illustrated in Fig. 8. In other words, the facing member 4 is a formed member in that it is formed to final shape after the rubber or synthetic rubber coating 3| or the like is bonded thereto; or is a preformed shape in that it is formed to final shape prior to being secured to the structural frame 3,

The facing member 4, instead of being formed of rubber or synthetic rubber coated sheet steel, may be fabricated from stainless steel. or stainless clad steel, or porcelain enamel coated sheet 49 steel; or it may be post-formed from a sheet of plastic material or fabricated as a molded plastic sheet.'

By forming the facing member 4 in any of the manners described, a working surface is provided which is substantially impervious to food and other materials normally used in a kitchen; and the entire top of the facing member 4 presents a continuous uninterrupted surface from the front nose to splashback top free of any transverse. cracks or' joints where food or other foreign material may collect.

' In manufacturing the improved table top, the structural frame 3 may be fabricated in the manner described; and the facing member 4 is formed in the manner described. The member 4 is sufflciently resilient that it may be snapped over the frame member 3, or it may be telescoped sidewise onto the frame member 3 so that the flange 22 engages under the recessed flange portions H of the frame member 3, and the flange 28 engages rearwardly of the recessed flanged portions 28 of the frame 3.

End trim cap members 5 are then telescoped over the ends of the frame 3 and the side edges of the facing member 4; and screws 33 are engaged in aligned apertures 2land 28 and similar apertures in the cap trim members 33, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. to complete the assem- -bly of the table top 2. The end trim cap members 5, as illustrated in Fig. 9 preferably are fab-. ricated as light gauge drawn stainless steel stampings. i i I I when the facing member 4 is mounted on and secured to the structural frame 3, the side edges of the facing member 4, throughout their entire length are rigidly supported'by the L-sliaped channeled end member 6 not only along the flat table top portion 24 but also upward along the splashback portion 26-21. Moreover, the facing member 4 is rigidly supported crosswise by the channel reinforcing member 8. Furthermore, by attaching the facing member 4 to the structural frame at the four corners by screws 33, the completed structure is rigid against warping, weaving and twisting and a flat working surface is maintained.

Thus, the completed structure has a facin of material which may be kept in a clean and sanitary condition; and has a curved front nosing and a coved splashback witha continuous uninterrupted working surface from front to rear without any transverse joints or cracks.

The improved construction avoids any hand fitting as all of the parts may be fabricated by production operations; and numerous difliculties and expensive operations heretofore involved in forming a table top with a coved splashback and a rounded nose are eliminated.

Accordingly, the present improvements provide a table top construction which is simple and relatively inexpensive and which accomplishes all of the foregoing objects and avoids the described prior art difficulties. 1

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are utilized for descriptive purposes herein and not for the purpose of limitation, and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated and described is by way of example and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details'of construction of the various parts.

Likewise, the construction is not limited to a table top for the kitchen cabinet illustrated because the table top construction may have any desired length and may serve as the drainboard for a sink which may be secured to the table top in any desired manner by forming a sink receiving aperture directly in the table top. Thus, a table top, platform, worktable, or the like, is included within the term "table top as used herein.

Having described the features of the invention, the manufacture ofa preferred embodiment of the improved table top construction, and the advantageous, new and useful results attained thereby; the new and useful devices, constructions, arrangements, combinations, sub-combinations, parts and elements, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof, obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a table top construction, L-shapcd end members and transverse members joined to the end members forming a structural frame; a facing member having a flat top, a curved front nosing portion, and a coved splashback; said L- shaped end members each having an upstanding leg; and means securing the'facing member to 6 the structural frame with the facing member splashback adjoining and supported by said upstanding legs.

2. In a table top construction, L-shaped, channel, sheet metal end members and transverse sheet metal members joined to the end members forming a structural frame; a facing member having a flat top, a curved front nosin portion, and a coved splashback; said L-shaped end members each having an upstanding leg; flanges on the facing. member engaging the L-shaped members; and means securing the facing member to the structural frame with the facing member splashback adjoining and supported by said upstanding legs.

3. In a table top construction, end members and transverse members joined to the end members forming a structural frame; the end members each having a curved front nose and an upstanding rear leg; a facing member having a fiat top, a curved front nosing portion, and a coved splashback; and means securing the facing member to the structural frame with the curved front nosing portion supported by the curved front end member noses, and with the coved splashback supported by the upstanding legs.

4. In a table top construction, L-shaped end members and transverse members Joined to the end members forming a structural frame; a sheet facing member having a flat top and an upstand joining and supported by said upstanding legs.

5. In a table top construction, L-shaped end members and transversemembers joined to the end members forming a structural frame; there being offsets formed 'in the bottom of the end members at the front thereof, there being other offsets formed at the rear of the upstanding .L-legs of the end members; a facing member generally L-shaped in section having terminal flanges, said terminal flanges being engaged in said offsets; and means securing the facing member to the structuralframe.

6. In a table .top construction, a structural frame having end members and transverse members joined to the end members; the end members each having an L-shape and channel section, the channel flanges merging to form a rounded nose at the outer end of each leg of the L and being offset adjacent each rounded nose; a sheet facing member formed with an inturned front flange, a rounded nose, 9. flat top portion, a curved cove portion, an upstanding splashback portion, a rounded nose and a downturned rear flange engaging. and supported by the frame member with the facing member flanges received in the end member offsets; cap trim members engaged over the frame end members and the side edges of the facing member; and means securing the frame, facing member and cap members together.

JACQUES STANITZ. 

